Lone Rabbit Spotted At Tampines Eco Green Now Rescued & Safe In SPCA’s Care

Lone White Rabbit Spotted At Tampines Eco Green On 17 Jan

UPDATE (18 Jan, 2.30pm): In response to MS News’ queries, the SPCA confirmed that they attended to the rabbit at Tampines Eco Green. The animal is now safe in their care. You may read their full statement below.

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While rabbits exist in the wild in certain countries, that’s not the case at all in Singapore.

So when someone spotted a lone white rabbit at Tampines Eco Green recently, eyebrows expectedly raised.

The sighting sparked concerns from netizens, who wondered if it was lost or had been abandoned.

Lone rabbit found wandering around Tampines Eco Green park

ROADS.sg shared the video of the rabbit to its Facebook page earlier this afternoon (17 Jan).

While it is unclear how the creature got there, the rabbit did not have any visible signs of neglect, such as malnourishment or matted fur.

It appeared to be curious about its surroundings as it was looking around and sniffing the grass. However, the mammal didn’t seem to be in a panicky state.

Netizens speculated whether the rabbit needed saving or if it was a wild animal.

A few commenters suspected it was a case of abandonment.

One Facebook user deduced that the rabbit was a domestic pet, as it didn’t scurry away at the presence of the person recording the video.

Some worried that the rabbit could be a target of wild predators, which could lead to unfortunate outcomes.

They thus asked whoever is capable to save the poor creature.

Others tagged animal welfare groups like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the House Rabbits Society of Singapore (HRSS), likely to alert them to the discovery.

SPCA attended to rabbit in Tampines

In response to MS News’ queries, the SPCA confirmed that they attended to the rabbit upon receiving an alert from a feedback provider.

The rabbit is currently safe in their care and has undergone medical checks at the SPCA’s Community Animal Clinic.

They thank the public for their concern and support in helping to ensure that the rabbit received timely care.

Pet abandonment a punishable crime

The SPCA also took the opportunity to share information regarding rabbits in Singapore as well as advise against pet abandonment. Here’s their advisory in full:

Rabbits in Singapore are domesticated pets and do not belong in the wild. As such, if you see a rabbit outside, it is highly likely that he or she has been abandoned or lost. As rabbits can get highly stressed in such situations and may not survive being out in the open for extended periods of time, we urge members of the public to immediately report these cases to the SPCA’s 24/7 emergency hotline at 6287 5355 Ext. 9.

The SPCA has observed a rise in abandonment cases over the years, particularly with small mammals such as rabbits and hamsters. Many of these animals are not microchipped, making it difficult to determine if they have been lost or abandoned. We have also noticed seasonal patterns, with an estimated 20 percent increase in surrenders or abandonments during the festive seasons. We also fear that with the rabbit year around the corner, there might be a surge in impulse purchases or adoptions of rabbits without serious consideration as to whether one is able to care for them for life. This inadvertently leads to them being surrendered or abandoned when care becomes too challenging.

We appeal to pet adopters and guardians to be responsible and understand that having a pet is a lifetime commitment. Abandonment is a crime and under the Animals and Birds Act, individuals who are found guilty of pet abandonment can face a maximum fine of $10,000, or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.

SPCA warned against impulse purchases of rabbits during CNY

The rabbit’s sighting at Tampines comes a few days after SPCA Singapore posted a PSA on Facebook to avoid impulse purchases of rabbits.

Some believe getting a pet that correlates with the current zodiac animal will bring good luck.

However, buying an animal without fully understanding the commitment required can lead to “higher occurrences of abandonment or surrender”, according to the post.

The animal welfare group also shared that while people may think keeping a small animal is lower maintenance, it’s not always the case.

Rabbits have a life span of six to 12 years, and require a complex diet comprising high quality hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets.

The post highlighted the case of Miffy, a rabbit who is now in need of a home after its owner surrendered it to SPCA.

Miffy’s owner was allegedly too busy to care for her and had given her up as she had grown in size.

Two cases of rabbit abandonment late last year

Unfortunately, rabbit abandonment cases appear to be on the rise, with two notable incidents in November and December 2022.

On 30 Nov, rescuers found 13 rabbits with matted fur at the void deck of an HDB block in Clementi.

13 Rabbits With Matted Fur Abandoned At Clementi Void Deck, Rescuers Appeal For Donations

They were jointly rescued by HRSS and Bunny Wonderland Singapore, and some are still in need of foster homes according to the latter’s Facebook page.

A few weeks later, four more abandoned rabbits were discovered near Bukit Batok Nature Park.

They were in even worse condition, as the two female rabbits had matted fur and maggots. Meanwhile, the other two males had bite wounds and maggots.

In an update on 31 Dec 2022, one female rabbit was found to be pregnant, but sadly lost both her babies after giving birth.

Whatever the true circumstances of the rabbit are, we hope it’s safe and will receive help soon should it require any.

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Featured image adapted from Facebook.